Expanding Apprenticeships in America

This executive order promotes apprenticeships as an alternative to traditional higher education by establishing industry-recognized apprenticeship programs, creating a federal task force, and requiring agencies to evaluate and potentially eliminate ineffective workforce development programs. It directs multiple cabinet departments to expand apprenticeship access for students, veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, and workers in critical sectors like manufacturing and cybersecurity.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 28229

Impact dates

Date TBD
Agency heads submit lists of skills development programs with evaluations and reform recommendations
Jun 15, 2019
Excellence in Apprenticeship Program established
Jul 15, 2017
Task Force report to President (task force terminates 30 days after)

Key directives

Secretary of Labor to consider proposing regulations promoting third-party recognized apprenticeship programs
Secretary of Labor to use available funding to promote apprenticeships, focusing on students, underserved sectors, and youth
Secretaries of Defense, Labor, Education, and Attorney General to promote apprenticeships for high school students, Job Corps participants, incarcerated/formerly incarcerated persons, and military/veterans
Secretaries of Commerce and Labor to promote apprenticeships to business leaders in manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and healthcare
Secretary of Education to support colleges and universities incorporating apprenticeships into courses of study
Establish Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion with report to President on strategies and proposals
Task Force terminates 30 days after submitting report
Secretary of Labor to establish Excellence in Apprenticeship Program by June 15, 2019
Agency heads to submit lists of skills development programs with effectiveness evaluations and elimination recommendations concurrent with FY 2019 budget submission
Agency heads to order rigorous third-party evaluations of job training programs
OMB Director to provide guidance to agencies on fulfilling obligations

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Establishment of Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion
OMB guidance to agencies on workforce program evaluations

Near term (90d)

Agency heads submit lists of skills development programs with OMB budget submissions
Task Force report to President (no fixed deadline, but task force terminates 30 days after submission)

Long term

Excellence in Apprenticeship Program established by June 15, 2019
Consideration of proposed regulations for industry-recognized apprenticeships
Fiscal Year 2019 budget incorporates agency program recommendations

Risks & tensions

Regulatory approach is tentative ('shall consider proposing') rather than mandatory, creating implementation uncertainty
Multiple provisions explicitly constrained by 'available appropriations' and 'consistent with applicable law', limiting binding force
Industry-recognized apprenticeship model may create tension with existing registered apprenticeship system and labor unions
Program elimination mandate (Sec. 10(a)(iii)) could conflict with congressional authorization for workforce programs
Task Force composition capped at 20 members may limit representation breadth
Vague timeline for Task Force report—no fixed deadline specified